Airport road toll up from April 1

The airport road toll has been hiked with the amount for cars going up by Rs 5 for a single trip and Rs 10 for a round trip.

An official from NHAI said the annual revision of rates will come into effect from midnight, April 1.

The concessionaire, EDTPL and IE, has been approved by the authorities and the new rates will be in effect until March 31, 2020, the official said.

The new rates are likely to hurt cars that have to pay Rs 90 for a single trip and Rs 135 for two trips (daily pass). For buses, the rates have gone up by Rs 15 for two trips.

The maximum increase is for multi-axle vehicles, especially the over-sized ones. Those with seven axles have to shell out Rs 830 for a round trip instead of the present rate of Rs 795.

The hike in toll rate is likely to increase the fare of BMTC Vayuvajra buses in the coming days. The BMTC, however, did not make any announcement in this regard till Sunday late night.

Urban transport activist Sanjeev Dyamannavar said the state government should complete the development of alternative route.

“At present, the approach road is 30 feet wide. It has to be widened to 100 feet. The government should also run affordable public transport to the airport instead of forcing people to shell out more on the toll,” he said.

He suggested that suburban rail connectivity be taken up immediately.

He said rail connectivity can be provided by building a halt station at the Trumpet Flyover, after the Doddajala station, instead of building a new line under the new suburban rail project.